The Chicago Bulls are gearing up for a co💖mpetitive training camp.
According to , EJ Liddel🌞l is the latest player to agree on a train⛦ing camp contract with the Bulls. The former No. 41 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft missed the entirety of his first season with the Pelicans due to a torn ACL. He went on to appear in eight games for New Orleans during the 2023-24 campaign but spent the majority of his time in the G-League, averaging 17.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Liddell now joins Kenny Lofton Jr. and Talen Horton-Tucker as training camp invites.
Can EJ Liddell Steal a Bulls Roster Spot?
First of all, Arutras Karnisovas 🎃has an obvious type. The executive has now signed ANOTHER in-state player, bringing the total training camp roster count to six. Liddell was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, and was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2018. The forward now Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter, Matas Buzelis, DJ Steward, and Talen Horton-Tucker as Illinois natives who will be in the Advocate Center next month.
Karnisovas also appears to be following a pretty similar track with each of his training camp signings. Liddell – like Lofton Jr. and Horton-Tucker – is an under-23-year-old who has at least had a taste of NBA action. Not to mention, he’s another player who garnered his fair share of interest coming into the league. Liddell made a name for himself at Ohio State as a two-way force who could guard along the perimeter and clock small-ball minutes at the five. He possesses a strong frame that he uses to finish through contact and force his way to the free-throw line.
To be sure, exactly where Liddell would fit in the NBA was – and remains – a question, but🍬 he has a lot of intangible qualities that coaches appreciate. Especially for a coach like Billy Donovan who values those swiss-army-k𒁃nife players, I can see why Liddell has been brought into the fold.
Can he beat out Lofton Jr. and Horton Tucker for a roster spot, though? I kind of like his chances, especially since he may possess the best 3-point shooting potential of the three. Also, let’s not forget the Bulls only have one two-way contract currently available. If they want to sign any of these three to a full-time roster spot, they’d likely have to waive Onuralp Bitim, who is currently playing under a non-guaranteed deal.
Lastly, remember that each of these players is likely signed under an Exhibit 10 deal. This means that they will have an incentive to sign with the Chicago Bulls’ G-League affiliate even if they fail to steal a roster spot. By joining the Windy City Bulls and playing a certain number of games, they’d be rewarded with a bonus.
